011. The Process of Becoming a Certified Sommelier Artwork

Taste Toast Travel

Hey, friends! Welcome to the Taste Toast Travel Podcast!

We're your hosts and resident foodies, epicureans, and lovers of all things travel and exploration, John and Tara.

John is a certified Sommelier and a Certified Specialist of Wine, and has worked in the wine and hospitality industry for over 10 years.

Tara has worked in the wine industry for eight years both in hospitality and digital marketing.

When we first met, we bonded over our love of eating, drinking, and traveling the world. That passion has only grown over time, now we want to share this passion with you from an insider perspective.

On this podcast, you can expect a wide range of topics on all things food, travel, and beverage. This includes non-alcoholic drinks, too, because we don't discriminate here!

That means we'll dig into things like where to go, where to stay and what to eat or drink along the way. We'll be serving tea on hot topics and big news, dig into the cultural significance and impacts that food, drink, and travel have on our lives, and we'll even bring on guests to join us who are just as excited, passionate, and knowledgeable about tasting, toasting, and traveling as we are.

And, because we're not your ordinary foodie and travel-focused podcast, you can definitely expect some pop culture topics here, too.

We're only scratching the surface and have a lot more in store that we can't wait to share with you all.

Grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and enjoy the journey with us. Cheers!

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Taste Toast Travel

011. The Process of Becoming a Certified Sommelier

January 20, 2025 • Taste Toast Travel • Episode 11

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We’re digging into one of John’s most FAQ’s: what it was like to become a Certified Sommelier!

John, with over 10 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industry, shares his unexpected beginnings with a criminology degree and his transformation into a wine expert, of sorts.

We’ll chat about the details of the Sommelier certification process, including the rigorous tasting, theory, and service exams. John talks about his preparation methods, the challenges he faced, and the broader implications of having such extensive wine knowledge.

We also touch on the differences between different Sommelier levels—certified, advanced, and master—while addressing some big misconceptions along the way. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or curious about the intricacies of becoming a Sommelier, this episode offers valuable insights and behind-the-scenes details you may have been wondering about!

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